She took one breath, 

Just one breath, just one deep inhale.  

Then a long exhale. 

Her eyes were closed. 

 

“When I take the next breath,” 

She thought, 

“I shall be in a forest.” 

She inhaled, 

And a small breeze, scented with pine 

Ruffled her hair. 

 

“And the next breath,” 

She thought, 

“Will take me to the lake shore.” 

She inhaled, 

And a lapping sound  

Tickled her ear. 

 

“The next breath,” 

She thought, 

“Will take me to the bakery.” 

She inhaled,  

And the warm smell of yeast  

Filled her nostrils. 

 

“The next breath,” 

She thought, 

“Will take me to Camp Randall,” 

She inhaled, 

And “Jump! Jump! Jump!” boomed in her ears, 

The stadium seats  

rocked below her. 

 

“I have such a rare power,” 

She thought,  

“That I can go anywhere, 

Be anything, 

Walk in my beloved woods, 

Or ride a rocket 

To the moon and stars. 

 

I can be anyone; a child on a stage fingers poised over a piano, 

And a woman crying over love torn asunder, 

Or a prize fighter lifting his belt into the air, 

I can see anything; the funeral of a loved one, 

And an ocean liner leaving the dock, 

Or a chrysalis breaking open to reveal a butterfly, 

I can feel both the smoothness of the horse’s mane 

And the dewy skin of a lover, 

Or the jagged sharpness of broken glass 

I can hear the wind make the leaves dance,

And the cry of a newborn, 

Or the scream of a siren splitting the night, 

I can smell the tang of spilled blood,

And the aroma of fresh coffee, 

Or the delicate perfume of the lilac in the Spring…”

 

giddiness in the power filled her lungs

and she took a breath… 

10/12/2020